The Clubhouse at Bogey Hills is the Perfect Venue For an After Golf Event

The Clubhouse at Bogey Hills boasts a spectacular 38,000 square foot palatial facility of sophistication and grace. It sits at the peak of a rolling hill looking out over 120 acres of lush countryside. Completely renovated in January of 1999, this gorgeous facility caters to the exquisite, discretionary taste of its patrons with resources available to comfortably host up to 575 individuals with one of the largest permanent dance floors in this area! We throw one heck of a party!

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Whitewater

The BOC whitewater paddling program takes advantage of the excellent paddling opportunities available in Maine and the rest of the Northeast. From the spring run-off Class I-III whitewater of coastal rivers, to the dam-controlled Class IV runs of the Dead River and Kennebec Gorge, students are able to develop their paddling skills with the guidance of staff and student instructors. Whether successfully negotiating the Class II rapids in a tandem canoe, running a Class IV drop for the first time in a kayak, or enjoying a fun day with a raft full of new friends, students gain a strong sense of accomplishment from spending time "messing about in boats". Many students arrive at Bowdoin with no prior experience, and leave after four years with expert skills in one or more types of watercraft. For others, the opportunity to get off campus occasionally and float down one of Maine's beautiful rivers is the perfect way to unwind from the demands of the rigorous academic life at Bowdoin. If you are interested in exploring whitewater rivers, then the BOC whitewater program can get you started, and give you an opportunity to pursue these activities throughout your Bowdoin career.

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Service and Ecology

An important part of enjoying the outdoors is the ability to give back to the environment that we spend our time in. Each year the Outing Club meets up with a number of organizations whose emphasis is on maintaining and preserving our natural areas. With these organizations, groups of students help build trails, maintain trails, pickup litter, clear tent sites, and general upkeep of heavily used areas. Through these experiences, students gain an awareness of our impact on wilderness areas and what we can do to enjoy these areas for years to come.

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Sea Kayaking

Located ten minutes from Maine's rocky coast, the Bowdoin Outing Club is situated in an ideal setting for a sea kayaking program. Our mixture of tandem and solo boats are housed at Bethel Point, located in Quahog Bay, which extends into Casco Bay. In Casco Bay, there are over 700 hundred islands to explore that give us unlimited access to the unique coastal paddling experiences that are found only in Maine.

Each year, we run an average of 12 sea kayaking trips. Most are day-long paddles along the New Meadows River and throughout the islandsd of Casco Bay. Several trips are over nights in which we utilize the islands along the Maine Island Trail. These trips offer students and experience on the ocean where ospreys, seals and numerous other wildlife sightings abound. On the trips, our leaders teach stewardship and low-impact techniques, along with natural history. This is an unique opportunity that all students should take advantage of while at Bowdoin.

In the fall, as part of our leadership training program, we do a five day sea kayaking trip visiting areas like Stonington, Muscongus Bay and the western rivers. In the spring, we offer training for our leaders who wish to lead sea kayaking trips. The multi-week course involves training in navigation, equipment, group management, paddling techniques, rescues and culminates in a three day trip. These student leaders are then able to lead sea kayaking trips for the Outing Club.

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Merritt Island

The Outing Club was fortunate to be the recipient of this generous land donation which we use as a base for trips, service projects, and Leadership Training. The 28 acre island is located on the ocean, in the New Meadows River and has a network of trails circumnavigating the perimeter. Six canoes live near the island to allow access at all tides, although at low tide you can walk across a sand bar. Sea kayakers use the island for a lunch stop or overnight camp, and leadership training canidates spend a day each semester practicing their camping and canoeing skills on the island.

In the near future, we are developing a foresty plan for the island that will allow us to safely remove some of the fallen underbrush as well as teach about low impact forestry.

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climbing wall

The BOC received a wonderful gift with the opening of the Peter Buck Center for Health and Fitness: our very own climbing wall!  Measuring in at just over 40 vertical feet with three different top-rope pitches and a bouldering arch, the wall has something for everyone – beginner or advanced! 

The climbing wall is run almost entirely by students, with a climbing wall manager and 18 climbing wall monitors working with the BOC Staff to maximize our use of the wall.  Climbing wall staff also work on a volunteer basis to document and set new routes and clean holds.  Climbing wall monitors certify climbers to use the wall and provide ‘Intro to Climbing at Bowdoin’ workshops for individuals and groups alike.  We’ve had proctor groups, sports teams, faculty/staff and their families, the women of Student Affairs and various campus offices (such as the CPC) take advantage of these wonderful opportunities! 

The SAFC has shown the BOC considerable support for equipping and staffing the climbing wall.  Members of the Bowdoin community have free access to climbing shoes and harnesses in a wide range of sizes. 

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Canoeing

In the fall and the spring, the Bowdoin Outing Club takes to the rivers and lakes of Maine to enjoy peaceful days paddling canoes. There is an abundance of water waiting to be explored in both nearby and far away places. Day trips venture to the local Cathance, Kennebec and Saco Rivers as well as to Lake Umbagog. Students may choose between a number of short day trips or weekend overnights. Once or twice a year, the Outing Club also offers extended canoe trips that go out over fall break or at the end of the year. These trips head further north to the West Branch of the Penobscot or the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, where students get to spend 5-6 days enjoying the wilderness. In the fall there is the opportunity for students interested in developing their whitewater canoeing skills to take part in the whitewater canoe class.

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